Improved fiee-escape ladder



@Leitch gisten gittmtt @ffice IMPROVED I'IItl-ESGAII'] LADDER.

alle .segnali naast tu in tigen teitas prima mit mating vgaat tf tige tata.

TO 'WHOM IT MAY C ONCERN:

`Be it known that I, W. I. PREWITT, of Elkton, in the county f Todd, and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Fire-Escape Ladders; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference'being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a-vertical section of my improved ladder, unfolded and ready for use.

Figure 2 is a l.like section of the same when` folded up and placed in the box; and

Figure 3 is a rear view of the ladder represented in iig. l.

My invention relates tov that kind of {ire-escape ladders which are jointed orvmade in sections so as to be folded orwunfolded as may be desired. These ladders are intended to be placed in the upper stories of buildings, and so arranged that in case of any emergency they can be suspendedfrom the windowsfso as to afford a safe egress for the occupants of the house:

The improvements I have made in this species of ladder simplify its construction, and allow of its being' folded upv so as to'occupy but little room. I make the ladder of I-I-shaped sections, each section being composed of two upriglrts or side pieces, connected 'about midway between their two ends by a cross-piece, which forms one round of the ladder. The different sections are loosely connected or jointed together by links, in such manner as to admit of one section being placed precisely on top of the other. The ladder, when unfolded, is kept the necessary distance from the wall of the building by placing the top section across the window-sill so that its end shall project the required distance, and it ismaiutained or anchored in this position by means of chains, which can be lengthcned or shortened at pleasure, and are attached to the door by bolts, hooks, or otherl suitable means. The top round, if desired, may be formed so as to give additional lirmness and steadiness to the ladder, as will be presently described. The ladder thus anchored tothe llo-or is folded up and enclosed within a box, which keeps the ladder from` being damaged, and may be so covered and arranged as to form a comfortable seat v In iig. 3 of the drawings'the form of the different sections is plainly represented. The sides A and cross piece or round B, which are made preferably of steel or iron, are so arranged as to resemble the letter Pi.- Each section is connected with the adjoining ones by means of links, C, which hold the contiguous ends ofthe sections together. This method of joining the sections admits of their being placed one over the other when the ladder 'is folded up, as shown in g. 2, so as to occupy the least possible space; and to more eifectually accomplish this, the ends of the pieces A are rounded, so that the contiguous ends may not interfere with each other. The top round or cross-piece of the rst section, which is held on the window-sill as shown ings. l

and 3, is formed with the round d, or that part which is caught hold of by the person `about to descend the ladder, projecting above the face of the section. The cross-piece D, from which it projects, connects with the two side pieces of the section, and can be made to extend out a little from. the section on the side where it rests on the sill, so as to form a shoulder, d', for the better support of the section. The upper ends of the ir'st section carry chains, E, which are bolted or otherwise secured to the floor in such manner as to be lengthened or shortened, according' as the sill is higher or lower, or it is desired to increase or diminish the distance at which the ladder shall swing from the wall. The manner of anchoring the ladder is shown plainly in the draws ings. The chains E attached to each of the side pieces A are held by hooks, F, secured in a block boited to the box G and floor. Any one of the links of the chains E may be placed or caught over the hooks. The box G which cncloscs the ladder, as shown in tig. 2, may be made of any pattern, and ornamented and arranged so as to for-m a seat, or may be put to any other suitable use.

The advantages which result from the arrangement above described are considerable. As I have already said, the ladder may be packed so as to occupy the least possible space, the sections being one on top of and over the other. By placing the rounds in the middle of the sections, and joining the contiguous ends of the sections themselves by links, I am enabled to give the requisite firmness and solidity to the ladder, and to econ-4 4 oniize in the material used in making it; and the method of anchoring the ladder to the door allows of the ladder being always kept ready for use, while at the same time the box in which it is enclosed keeps it out of sight when it is not needed, and prevents it from being in any way damaged.

. new 2 Having described my invention, and the mnner in which the same is on may be cairried into eect, what I claim, and desire to secure by' Letters Patent, is-

1. A re-escape ladder, composed of H-shnped sections, jointed or connected togetherr by links, substantially as and for the purposes shown and set forth.

2. The combination, with the top section of the ladder, of the combined cross-brace and round onhalndleprojecting from the face vofv said-section, as shown and described.

W. P. PREWITT.

Witnesses:

J. G. HOLLINGSWORTH, W. A. GLENN. 

